Frustoconical Valve Disc Gasket for Torque-Driven CIP Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid flow control valves face challenges in efficient cleaning, particularly when using a cleaning in place system, as existing designs do not effectively utilize the flow of cleaning fluid to rotate the valve disc gasket and improve cleaning efficiency, especially in small clearances.
Innovation Solution
A valve disc gasket with a frustoconical, ring-shaped body part featuring asymmetrical through-going openings, slits, or protrusions that interact with cleaning fluid to generate torque, allowing the gasket to rotate relative to the valve disc, facilitating thorough cleaning by flushing cleaning fluid through clearances between the valve disc and gasket.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the valve disc gasket fits tightly on the valve disc to ensure sealing efficiency, then sealing efficiency is improved, but cleaning efficiency deteriorates because cleaning fluid cannot effectively reach all surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The valve disc gasket is designed to rotate relative to the valve disc during cleaning operations. The gasket transitions from a static sealed position to a dynamic rotating state, allowing cleaning fluid to access different surfaces. The frustoconical geometry and clearance design enable this rotational movement while maintaining sealing when stationary.
Solution Approach 2:
The gasket is designed with features that enable preliminary rotational positioning before cleaning. The asymmetrical openings and slits create torque when exposed to cleaning fluid flow, automatically initiating rotation to expose different surfaces to the cleaning fluid before the main cleaning process.
2Ease of operation
If the valve disc gasket is designed with a simple structure for easy replacement, then ease of replacement is improved, but cleaning efficiency deteriorates due to lack of rotational capability
Solution Approach 1:
The gasket is segmented with asymmetrical openings and slits that serve dual purposes: they allow passage of cleaning fluid to create rotational torque, and they maintain structural integrity for easy replacement. The segmentation creates functional zones that enable both simplicity and cleaning effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The gasket incorporates asymmetrical openings and slits that are not uniformly distributed. This asymmetry creates uneven fluid pressure distribution during cleaning, generating torque that rotates the gasket. The asymmetrical design is simple to manufacture while enabling the complex cleaning action.
3Ease of manufacture
If cleaning fluid is flushed through clearances between valve disc and gasket, then cleaning capability is improved, but the valve disc gasket does not rotate sufficiently to clean all surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning system utilizes hydraulic principles by directing cleaning fluid through the clearances. The fluid flow creates pressure differential across the asymmetrical openings and slits, generating torque that rotates the gasket. This hydraulic action transforms linear fluid flow into rotational motion of the gasket.
Solution Approach 2:
The gasket is designed to rotate automatically during cleaning without external mechanical intervention. The cleaning fluid itself provides the torque needed for rotation through its interaction with the asymmetrical openings and slits. The system uses the cleaning medium to both clean and drive the rotational movement.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design significantly enhances cleaning efficiency by rotating the valve disc gasket multiple revolutions, effectively cleaning the valve disc and valve, especially in small clearances, using the flow of cleaning liquid to provide a counteracting force and torque, thereby improving the overall cleaning process.
Implementation Method 1
a flow of cleaning liquid will interact with the vane surfaces such that the valve disc gasket is subjected to a torque around the axis thereby causing the valve disc gasket to rotate several revolutions about the axis relative to a valve disc
Implementation Method 2
introducing a cleaning liquid in a flow channel such that a flow of cleaning liquid may be maintained during a cleaning period
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~3d
Figure 4a~4d
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a valve disc gasket (10) for use in a fluid flow control valve (1), the valve disc gasket (10) comprising a frustoconical, ring-shaped body part (11) having a plurality of circumferentially distributed asymmetrical, through-going openings (21) and/or slits (22) and/or asymmetrical protrusions (23), wherein an internal surface (21a, 22a) of the respective asymmetrical through-going opening (21) and/or slit (22) forms a vane surface (25) and/or wherein an external surface (23a) of the respective asymmetrical protrusion (23) forms a vane surface (25), wherein the asymmetrical through-going openings (21) and/or slits (22) and/or protrusions (23) are asymmetrical at least in the sense that respective through-going opening (21) or slit (22) and/or protrusion (23) is asymmetric relative to any radial plane (RP) intersecting the respective through-going opening (21) or slit (22) and/or the respective protrusion (23). Also disclosed is a fluid flow control valve (1) and a method for cleaning a fluid flow control valve (1).